In the Land of Women script

Let's be honest with ourselves.

I think we always knew this wasn't gonna work out.

Carter...

...I care about you.

Very much.

In a way, I do love you and I don't wanna hurt you.

Carter, you have to say something.

We haven't stopped talking since the day we met.

Excuse me. Are you...?

You are. You're Sofia Bunuel.

Oh, my God. We're, like, your biggest fans ever.

I've seen Sprawl, like, a million, zillion times. I own the DVD.

That's really sweet. Thank you.

- Can I get your autograph? - Well, yeah, sure.

Just write, "To Todd.

You're a pathetic faggot and I would never get with you."

Okay. Yeah.

Thank you.

Listen...

...I hear what you're saying.

But you've gotta hear me.

All I know is that I need space.

I don't know what's gonna happen.

Maybe, eventually, who knows? Nobody knows.

But right now, I need you to give me that space.

Fine. I wanna do that. I wanna give you all the space you need.

I just-- I don't want you to break up with me.

- I have to go now. - Please, will you just--?

Will you not leave me here like this? Will you stay and talk a little bit?

I can't.

Goodbye.

You have one unheard message.

The following message has not been heard.

It's Avi. I read your script last night.

You know, this is supposed to be premium soft-core erotic- -

Hey.

What are you doing here?

I just came to get some... .

And I wanted some... .

Are you--? Are you crying?

Oh, a little. I was just talking to my mom.

I think she's got big, big problems.

She hasn't exactly been firing on all cylinders.

No, she's convinced she's dying.

- Is she sick? - I don't think so.

The doctor can't find anything wrong with her.

But hearing her sound so scared and helpless, I just--

I felt so sorry for her.

Anyway, I'm gonna fly out there in the next few days and deal with it.

I should go there.

- I'll go to Michigan. I'll stay with Grandma. - What about your job?

I write soft-core porn. I can do that from Michigan.

Doesn't really require tremendous effort.

Besides, it'll give me an opportunity to write that thing that I've been wanting to write.

About Genghis Khan?

- No, that other thing. - About your high school?

Don't say it like that, because it sounds moronic.

You've been saying you were gonna since you were 15.

The only way I'm actually gonna do it...

...is if I just get out of L.A., get away from my life.

Wonder how Sofia's gonna feel about that?

I think she'll be thrilled. She just broke up with me.

Sofia dumped me.

Are you kidding me? When?

Hour and a half ago. Been in traffic.

- Maybe it's just a-- - No.

It's over. She's gone.

Oh, shit. Shit.

- Would you please hold it together? - Unbelievable.

I just can't handle you acting like this is the end of the world.

I'm sorry, honey. I'm sorry.

It's just she's so beautiful. She's so funny and great, yeah.

Oh, Carter, oh, God, I'm sorry.

Honey, how are you doing? Are you all right?

No.

I know this is gonna sound like something that a mom has to say...

...but it is true, you will be all right.

I mean, these things, you know, take time.

Sometimes a really long time.

I mean, I'm still trying to get over Rodney Portchnik...

...and that was 12th grade.

Don't tell me that Rodney Portchnik story, please.

I'm just saying that you will be all right.

Women have always been drawn to you, Carter, ever since you were a little boy.

And one day when you least expect it, you're gonna meet a really great girl.

I don't wanna meet a really great girl.

I don't wanna meet anyone. I just wanna be alone with my grandma...

...and her cat.

You're such a freak.

Are you going out tonight?

No. Maybe. Why?

It's Friday night.

You're going out with Gabe Foley, aren't you?

Shut up.

I have to live through you. I'm too young to have a life of my own.

Yeah, we're still not talking about this.

Whatever. Be that way.

Lucy? I'm in the kitchen.

How was your day?

Fine. What's up?

Nothing.

Well, something, actually. It's not a big deal, though.

Then can it wait? Because there's some stuff I gotta get done.

I went to go see Dr. Bennett today.

Why?

I found a nondescript kind of...

...lump in my breast.

- Oh, my God. - We don't know anything yet.

It's very possible that it could be nothing. And even if it is something...

...it still could-- It just could be nothing.

Mom... .

So your dad is going to take me over to Ann Arbor on Tuesday morning...

...for some tests.

- I should come with you. - No.

No. L-- I just want you to go to school.

Okay, we're not gonna treat this like it's any kind of big deal until... .

Okay?

Yeah.

Lucy...

...everything's gonna be all right.

Really.

Hi, Grandma.

Whoa, Grandma. Grandma. It's me, it's Carter. It's your grandson.

Agnes is my mother, also your daughter. Hey.

I can't believe I'm still alive.

I can't believe I lived to see your face again.

Thank you. I'm so glad too...

...although I probably wouldn't have put it that way.

Do you think I can come inside?

- Through the door. - Okay.

- Where's the cat? - Dead.

- Can you cook? - A little.

I haven't eaten anything in three weeks.

- Really? - I had some pasta.

Okay.

When I'm dead...

...you want this house?

- I'm sure it's not that simple. - It's my house.

I can give it to whomever I choose.

Well, then, thank you. I guess we'll see.

I'm starving.

- Hello? - Hey, I'm here.

Thank God. Carter, this is the worst idea you have ever had in your life.

I know. You've mentioned that several times.

- Okay, I'm coming. - No, you're not.

Listen, let's just give it a try, okay?

I still think this could be exactly what I need right now.

Just kind of regroup and get in--

Someone is calling for you.

- Hello? - Carter? Is that you?

- Avi? - I'm in the hills now.

- Damn it, my service sucks. - How did you get this number?

I have my ways. Your mother gave it to me.

Listen, we have an emergency. We gotta talk now.

You gave him the number? Now I have to do this. I'll call you later.

I'm walking on the set.

I've got a girl in this one, tush so hot and tight you could fry an egg.

Beside the point. She has a problem. She doesn't understand and neither do I...

... why her character would have with the guy installing her DSL...

... since she's already having an affair with her yoga instructor.

You said you wanted a scene...

...where she seduces the guy who's installing her DSL line?

Yeah. I don't think I can sell her that. Anything else?

How about this, man, she really wants high-speed Internet?

We're being funny now?

Listen, the character, Monica, is a ual compulsive, okay?

Because of a traumatic childhood, she's turned on by illicit .

It's the only way she can orgasm, that's it.

That's just a phase. You get over it.

Grandma, would you get off the phone, please?

Where the hell are you?

I'm out of town for a few days, okay? I can't talk right now.

I'll get you the new script by Monday or Tuesday.

Listen, all right, it should have a scene...

... where the hot rookie cop has to get down- -

Hey, buddy. My grandma's on the line.

God.

Grandma, I'm not abandoning you. I just got here three hours ago.

- I'll put on the alarm. - No, I wouldn't put on the alarm.

- Why not? - Because I'll be right back.

Thank you very much.

- Bozo. - Sorry?

The dog's name is Bozo.

Oh, hey.

Hey, Bozo.

You must be from the nursing home. Are you taking care of Phyllis?

No, she's actually my grandma.

Your grandmother.

I didn't know she had children or grandchildren.

Yeah, we don't get out to visit too often, so... .

- Where are you from? - L.A.

Oh, Los Angeles. I was there once, a long time ago.

- Yeah. Well, you know, it gets a bad rap. - Oh, I liked it. I liked it very much.

I'm Sarah.

Carter. Nice to meet you.

So you finally get to spend some time with your grandma, huh? That's nice.

Yeah. I think I may be staying for a while, actually.

See if we can't figure out some arrangement where I sort of take care of her.

She's a handful.

I know. I'm kind of worried about it.

- Well, don't be worried. - No?

No, no, you'll be great.

All right, I appreciate that.

Oh, shit.

I better get going before my daughter gives me that look...

...like I'm the most embarrassing person on earth. I hate that look.

Probably because I used to give it to my mother.

- It's a beautiful night. - Come on.

- Yeah. - Wicked.

Yeah, I guess it is.

Hey, Lucy. I thought maybe... . You wanna sit in the front?

No, that's fine.

Either that or she's just fat.

Hi.

This is gonna sound weird, but my parents don't know that I smoke...

...so I was wondering if you could not... .

You have a cigarette on you now?

No.

Maybe. Why?

Because I'm taking it hostage.

So... .

This message is from the Kurtzman Radiology Center...

... calling to confirm Sarah Hardwicke for her appointment tomorrow, Tuesday.

- wake up with aching back, your mattress may be the problem.

Wake up refreshed and feel like new...

... with our revolutionary comfort-adjusted mattress system.

This may be the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind.

Devon runs a lazy finger around the rim of her wine glass...

... trying not to glance at Trent's bulging crotch.

"We've got to keep this professional.

Maybe we could just consider it one of our attorney-client privileges. "

- Hello. - Hi.

Hi, Phyllis. How's it going?

That's Mrs. Harding.

Hardwicke.

Who gives a shit?

Okay. Grandma, I got it. Thank-- Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

Yeah. Well, I made some cookies.

Wow, thank you so much.

They look a little bit like Fig Newtons.

That's right. That's exactly what they are. I didn't so much as make them...

...as wrap them and put them on the plate because I wanted to give the illusion... .

- The truth is I'm a terrible baker. Bakess. - Yeah, well, thank you so much anyways.

My grandmother will just completely devour these. It's pretty disturbing.

Well, actually, it was an excuse to come over.

And this might sound a little bit weird...

...but it's a beautiful day and I have to walk the dog...

...and I was wondering if you wanted to... .

Yeah. Okay.

Great. Really?

Yeah. Just give me one minute.

I'm on the plane on the way out here and I turn on my computer...

...and I start reading these e-mails that I sent her.

Like, 30 or more, maybe, over the course of our relationship.

And not just short messages.

I'm talking about long, involved love letters.

Like, desperately trying to be romantic and poetic. Whatever.

And as embarrassing as it is...

...it's also, like, kind of the best stuff I've ever written...

...because it's got this naive idealism thing going on...

...where ours is gonna be the greatest love stories ever told.

And I'm writing it.

So I'm sitting there reading these emails...

...and there's some turbulence...

...and I start to have this massive panic attack.

Like nothing I've ever had.

And I think it's happening...

...because I can not imagine ever feeling that way about anybody else ever again.

Listen, I have never, in my life, received anything...

...like the kind of letters you wrote her.

Never written one, either.

And you're lucky. You're lucky in a way...

...that has nothing to do with this particular girl.

But you already know that.

I must sound so young to you.

Yeah, well, screw you, pal.

Come on. I didn't mean it like that.

I know what you meant.

You know, I pride myself on being this great listener...

...but whenever I meet somebody new, I find I'm doing all the talking.

What is that?

Maybe you're not really such a great listener.

Maybe you're not such a great listener.

No. No, that's not it. I'm a great listener.

Yeah, but that's the thing. I hear myself talking about it.

Nelson's career. Lucy's painting.

Like they're my own interests and my own accomplishments, but they're not.

And I find myself wondering, "Where am I? What am I?"

Let me ask you this.

Like, what is it exactly you do with your days?

You see, now, that is just so predictable.

There is the perception that because I don't have a job or I'm not in school...

...that I'm sitting around doing nothing, which is ridiculous.

Most days I don't have five seconds to myself.

I'm driving somebody around or dealing with the house or making the meals.

Not to mention I'm on, like, 15 boards.

I'm sorry. I didn't think that... .

Yeah, I know you didn't, but my family does, you know?

I can feel them all just silently judging. Especially Lucy.

No matter what I do, l-

It's like I'm just disappointing to her.

Well, she's a teenager. You're her mother.

I mean, it'd be weird if she didn't feel that way, right?

I don't know. I'm sorry, I do think about it and so I'm touchy.

But maybe I could be doing more.

God, I just don't wanna look back on my life...

...and wonder what part of it belonged to me.

Okay.

- Yeah. - So--

That was really nice. Thank you.

Yeah, you're welcome. I mean, it was really great to talk to you.

- Yeah, all right. - Okay.

- Shit. - What?

- Shit. - What?

I'm a last-word freak.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Okay, well, I'm gonna go inside.

You just shout something to me as I'm walking away.

- That'd be great. - Perfect.

更多影评上www.130q.com

- Great. - Okay.

You're gonna be all right.

I don't know. Do you maybe wanna do this again? Like tomorrow or... .

Oh, l-- Sorry, I can't tomorrow. I have an appointment.

Okay. All right. Don't worry about it.

- Wednesday? - Yeah. That would be awesome.

I'll come by.

- Okay. Well, I guess-- - Carter.

"Awesome"? That's... .

Mom, I can't talk about this anymore. It's too retarded.

And I really do not wanna fight with you right now.

It's not a fight. It's not a fight. It's not even a big deal.

I'm just saying he's basically alone over there.

You could just take him to a movie.

Do you have any idea how lame that would sound?

It would redefine lame. Seriously. Are you ready to make history?

She might have a point, sweetheart.

It could be a little awkward. What do we know about this guy?

Forget it. Just forget it.

I thought maybe, maybe, just do something nice for somebody sometime...

...but I can't handle the two of you ganging up on me.

This is happening because we're all really scared.

So I'm gonna say to you the same thing I said to her.

Whatever we find out tomorrow, we deal with it together.

Now, your daughter would like to apologize...

...and she said, if you really want her to...

...she'll go across the street now and ask Crazy's grandson out on a date.

He's a sweet kid. I feel bad for him.

He's heartsick.

I'm gonna be with you every second.

What?

Well, I'm just curious.

Do you ever worry that you're gonna get stuck in one of those positions?

Yes, I do.

Ready for bed?

Did you know yoga increases circulation...

...promotes health and well-being and also reduces anxiety?

Yeah, I've read that.

Well, maybe you could try it.

Hey, you know what?

I'm sorry if I've seemed a little bit distracted lately.

It's cool.

Good night, muffin.

Did you get my pills?

Yeah, these are some pretty serious tranquilizers you got here.

Are you sure it's safe to be taking these all at once?

I love it.

Who changed the sheets?

I did.

Who's Sofia?

How did you know about that?

Oh, you kind of mutter in your sleep.

What are you doing in my room when I'm sleeping?

That's a really good question.

Well, she was my girlfriend...

...and she doesn't wanna be with me anymore.

Is she zaftig?

Yeah. Spectacular, actually.

That's so important.

I'm Sofia.

I am completely in love with you.

Goodbye.

Hey. How you doing?

- Yes? - Do you know where you are?

I'm just regrouping.

- I could give you a ride home if you want. - No. I'm good.

Gotta keep running. It's healthy.

Actually, you know what?

My mom and I kind of got into this fight the other night.

I mean, it wasn't really a fight, it was just... .

She wanted me to maybe ask you if you wanted...

...to go see a movie or something.

And I told her that it would be really embarrassing.

It would be the last thing that you'd want to do.

I mean, some creepy girl accosting you like you're some kind of charity.

This is really coming out wrong.

Your parents, they normally pretty cool about letting you go out on a school night?

Not really.

Do you think if you were taking me to a movie...

...being neighborly, they might make an exception?

I don't know.

All right. Find out. Get back to me.

What is it?

It's possible...

...I think maybe...

...my toilet might be stopped up.

Maybe? What's the variable?

Water's running over the top.

The carpet's all wet.

Well, I'll take a look. First, I just gotta stop off in my room and kill myself.

I think I should tell Paige alone.

I think it's less scary if it's coming from me...

...and she sees that I'm fine.

I think you're right.

But I want you to tell Lucy.

It's better that way.

So he goes, "Find out. Get back to me."

Which is not exactly like, whatever...

...but it definitely indicates that he might be, you know--

- Interested? - Yeah. Kind of, right?

I mean, even if he were, it would still be the most awkward--

- Do it. - You think?

Yeah. You have to do it. And you know what else?

Like, seriously, you have to take me with you.

All right. Somebody better tell me what's going on here.

I really want ice cream. I've been thinking about that all day.

Who wants to come with me?

Wait, but what--?

You want me to go get ice cream?

You know what? You two go ahead.

Lucy and I are gonna take Bozo for a walk. Come on. It'll be good.

Does it hurt?

No.

The chemotherapy can be rough, and they said there's nausea.

And it could make me tired.

Are you scared?

Yeah, sometimes.

Not right now, though. Right now I feel pretty tough.

You don't look so tough.

I took $20 from your purse.

Really? When?

A while ago. Last February.

Are you serious?

Yeah.

I've been wanting to tell you for a while.

I felt bad about it. I'm sorry.

Well, just out of curiosity, what did you need $20 for?

It's stupid.

I wanted to start saving money, you know, for the future.

But I didn't have any money...

...so I needed a foundation.

Right. Well, at least you're financially responsible.

I'm telling you because other than that, I don't have any secrets from you.

- It's okay to keep some things to yourself. - Yeah, but I don't.

Like, I always tell you the truth because you always tell me the truth.

Right?

Right.

If you say everything's gonna be okay, I believe you.

And I know you're telling the truth because you wouldn't lie to me.

Maybe to other people...

...like, maybe to Lucy or maybe to Dad...

...but not to me.

I just needed to know.

Are you gonna be okay?

Hey.

What's going on?

You look good. You look better than you did the other day.

- So, what was her name? - Sorry?

- The girl you wrote all those letters to. - Oh, Sofia.

- Was she your first love? - Yeah.

Well, there was somebody in high school...

...but I used to have this tendency to project onto girls...

...my fantasies of what I thought they should be like.

Didn't have anything to do with what they were actually like.

It would just take me forever to figure that out.

Usually four to five months.

But Sofia was different?

Yeah. Well, you know.

No. Actually, that was pretty much the same deal.

Well... .

Come on. There's something I wanna show you.

This is exciting. Do you know where we're going?

I feel like we're gonna run into the cast of Deliverance.

Love it here.

I have this whole science-fiction scenario worked out...

...where I pretend that since there's no evidence of modern life...

...that I could walk out of these woods...

...and be in another time and a different place.

I love that.

My husband has been having an affair.

I found out a while ago and I didn't do anything about it.

I told myself it's because of the girls and... .

I just have a very comfortable life. It's very clean.

I'm good at that, you know?

And the thing is, he's really a decent guy. I mean, he's a good provider and... .

Anyway, it's discreet, I guess. I don't know.

That must sound pretty vacant to you.

I wouldn't even begin to know how to have an opinion about that.

The thing is, I just don't... .

I just don't love him.

Not like you love her. Not like that kind of love...

...where it hurts when it's good...

...especially when it's good, you know?

The further away I get from that and the more I talk to you, you know...

...l'm not so sure that was real love either.

You know, I'd really like just to give you a hug right now.

Would that be weird?

Hey, Lucy can't know anything about Nelson's--

- Sarah. - Right.

Goes without saying.

You know, she asked me about taking you to a movie on a school night specifically.

We usually don't let her go out on the weekdays.

That's responsible.

I'm making an exception.

I'm guessing tomorrow you probably have... .

Yeah. Another appointment.

Hey, look, I don't know when I'm gonna be able to do this again.

It might be a couple days, might be longer. I do have a lot of stuff coming up.

All right.

- But I have to go to the grocery store. - I'll go.

- Okay. - Great, yeah.

I had never been to New York before. I loved it.

And I remember that I was sitting alone in the American Wing of the Met.

I was in the room where they have all the paintings...

...from the Hudson River Valley School.

I just suddenly had this feeling like I was awake.

Finally, awake to my life. Like I was exactly where I was suppose to be.

And then the other day...

...l'm sitting in the car outside of school waiting for Paige.

She comes out. She's telling me all about her day...

...and jumps in the car and I had that feeling again.

Like, "This is it. This is exactly where I'm suppose to be, right here with her."

So I guess I just wish that I could have appreciated everything more.

I just want as many of those moments as I can possibly have, you know?

I mean, I wanna go back to New York City and sit alone at the Met.

Probably more than anything I wish I was the kind of person...

...who would just eat that candy bar right here in the middle of the store.

Well, then you should.

I think I should really tell you just a little bit about what's going on with me.

Okay, but then I wanna tell you something.

Okay, you go first.

All right, well, I was just gonna say...

...I think your husband's out of his mind.

So... .

What were you gonna say?

Nothing. It's really not very important.

First unheard message.

Hi, honey, it's me.

We need to talk about long-term plans, like when you're gonna come home.

I'm- - I don't think this is healthy. Call me. Bye.

Sir?

Oh, gee, you should go over there.

What?

It's me. I need to show you something.

It's pretty important.

- You're all dressed up. - Yeah. For our date, remember?

- Tonight, cute guy from across the street? - Yeah, I just thought...

...with everything going on, you might not want to do that.

Look, when I get freaked out about something in my life...

...I like to do research on the Internet. Over the last couple of days...

...l've learned everything I could about this whole situation.

Really?

Most likely they're gonna wanna do a mastectomy.

They say that can be pretty difficult on a woman's psyche...

...so we're just gonna really have to watch out. Be supportive.

Then, about three weeks later, she'll start chemo.

Did they actually say that?

Yeah, but these days a lot of people do chemo and definitely some radiation.

All of this doesn't scare the shit out of you?

Well, of course it does.

But since I'm not a breast surgeon or an oncologist...

...there's not a whole hell of a lot that I can do about it tonight.

So I was thinking we could get something to eat first.

Carter, you enjoy pizza? They have exquisite pizza.

Yeah, I'm into pizza.

- I was a lot like you when I was your age. - Very feminine?

Precocious.

I like her sometimes.

Are you kidding? She's phenomenal. I rented Sprawl on DVD--

Oh, and the other day I was reading online and she's been seen with Colin Farrell.

I'm gonna go to the bathroom.

Get ahold of yourself. You're a man.

You're not weak. You're not pathetic. Deal with it and move on.

I know you.

Not really, I know what you're talking about.

My worst fear is that I'm gonna come out of the stall after taking, like, a big dump...

...and the place is all rank with my-- You know, my shit...

...and I'm gonna know the other guy in the frigging bathroom.

That's your worst fear?

It's up there.

Whoa, it just keeps getting better.

Hi.

I mean, hi.

Did you guys, like, meet in the bathroom or something?

You're Eric Watts.

Yeah, I guess I am.

You work at the Orange Julius.

I love... .

I love the Orange Julius.

I didn't know that.

Yeah. I built the car?

The Camaro?

Lmpressive. Tr閟 impressive.

Well, basically, I rebuilt it. Restored it.

Which cost a lot of money.

Money I didn't exactly have, hence the Orange Julius.

So you're, like, what? Just all hanging out?

Oh, not exactly.

Lucy's mom forced them to take me to the movies...

...because I've been feeling really depressed lately.

Anyways, we should get going because they still gotta buy me food...

...and amuse me with witty anecdotes and impressions.

Well, enjoy your movie and food. It was nice to meet you...

...dude. Whatever your name is.

Okay, so I want you to tell me something.

You live in suburban Michigan.

You go to an average high school. I wanna hear about the football games.

I want you to tell me about, like, the garage bands and prom night.

The John Hughes stuff.

Who?

I am very old.

You didn't go to high school?

Well, I went to this private, sort of a progressive school in L.A., you know?

Overprivileged, lot of drugs.

I don't know. I never really felt like it was that classic experience I always wanted.

For instance, there was no football team.

Well, it's not exactly the '50s here, either.

I mean, it may not be fast-lane L. A...

...but, you know, we're not completely naive.

- We do things. - Like what?

- Yes, like what? - Yeah, like what?

- Let's see the Colin Farrell movie. - Let's not.

What is with you and that guy, anyway?

I had a great time, Paige.

- Really? - Absolutely.

Well, I'm gonna go to sleep now.

Okay.

Thanks for paying for everything tonight.

Yeah. Good night.

Oh, Carter?

Will you marry me?

Yes.

To listen to your messages, press 1.

You have two saved messages.

- This is my room. - Yeah.

Grab a sweater.

Why?

So I think I'm dating the quarterback of the football team.

I don't know, does it get more Breakfast Club than that?

Are you serious?

We're not exactly dating. We're just kind of...

...hanging out a lot.

His name's Gabe.

And I'm into him. I just... . I don't know.

- Remember the guy at the mall? - Eric.

That's his best friend and they do everything together.

But they're totally different.

Gabe's really confident.

Maybe even cocky.

Have you kissed him?

Yeah. Sort of.

Not really, though.

Define "kissing."

Why not?

My dad's having an affair.

And the weird thing is that I'm really not mad at him.

I mean, I am...

...but I'm mad at my mom.

Well, that doesn't seem fair.

I know. I just--

I can't end up like her. I mean, she's...

...cold and superficial.

I mean, she's obsessed with making her life...

...look more like a Crate and Barrel catalog.

I don't understand how she just doesn't scream...

...every time she looks at herself in the--

I mean, especially now--

Why you telling me this?

I don't know.

I'm sorry.

Your mom said you're a painter?

I'm not a painter. I just do it sometimes.

It kind of calms me down when I'm freaking out.

Helps me with my problem.

And what's your problem?

I'm afraid to kiss Gabe Foley.

You'll get over that, trust me.

When you're in the moment, with the right person, you'll be fine.

Hey, so my mom doesn't really know anything about my dad.

Right. Thanks.

Grandma. Grandma. Hey, you don't have to do that, okay?

I'll clean it as soon as I put this on the stove.

Will you just let me?

What does that mean?

- My cell phone? - Yes.

Okay, well, it's probably my boss.

Most likely, he's calling to tell me I no longer have a job.

You're in swimming-pool resurfacing?

What? I'm a writer.

What do you write?

I write children's books.

That's nice. I love children.

That's not true. I used to.

Now I resent them. But maybe I could read one of your books.

I didn't bring any here with me, so it's gonna be kind of difficult to do that.

It's too bad. I would have loved to have read something you wrote before I died.

Grandma.

I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, okay?

But you're not dying.

It's just not gonna happen.

So would you please--? Would you stop saying that?

You know what hospice is?

Oh, God.

When you find my lifeless corpse...

...those are the people you're supposed to call.

And they'll manage everything.

They'll put me in a big Ziploc bag and take me to the morgue.

- I've requested incineration. - Hey. Okay.

The number for hospice in Michigan...

...is taped on the phone in the living room.

You wanna see it?

That'll be the deli guy.

Well, that's a relief. This soup you're making is disgusting.

- Oh, thank you. - I'm sorry.

- Thanks. - Thanks.

It's been four days. Not that I was keeping track.

I just thought maybe... .

I know Lucy told you.

I knew she would.

So I wouldn't have... . So I wouldn't... .

Lucy did not tell me anything.

I'm sick.

I'm pretty sick.

I have breast cancer.

Tomorrow morning, l--

Tomorrow morning, I have to go into the hospital...

...and they have to cut-- Oh, shit.

And they have to cut off--

Oh, shit.

Shit!

Hey, look at me. I want you to look at me.

I'm right here, and I promise you, you're gonna be all right.

You're gonna be all right.

I know.

I didn't mean... .

I didn't--

Pandy had thought he was in the perfect relationship.

Then one day, the child he belonged to tossed him out on the street.

He had been replaced...

... by Colin Farrell.

- Jesus. - What's up?

Hey. You can just go to my room.

- It's the last one on the left. - Who is it?

Phyllis and I are about to have an abrupt conversation.

Let's go in there.

Grandma, let me explain something to you.

Okay? Look at me, look at me.

Not okay for you to answer the front door when you're not wearing clothes.

It's not okay for you to do anything involving other people...

...when you're not dressed.

I'm wearing a sweater.

Listen to me. Get with the program.

I'm looking out for your best interests here.

Now, if you wanna give the illusion that you are not completely demented...

...you will heed my advice on this. Okay?

Put some pants on.

Put some pants on.

Let's never talk about that.

Done.

How's your mom?

She's okay.

She had her first chemotherapy yesterday, so she's kind of out of it.

Maybe you could visit her.

She hasn't exactly indicated that she'd be too into that.

It seemed more like maybe... .

Yeah. She's tired a lot.

It's good to see you.

So I came here because I kind of have a problem.

And you were-- That night on the field, you were really kind of helpful.

- I was wondering if maybe you could... . - Yeah. Absolutely.

Okay.

This is gonna sound... .

Okay, whatever.

Apparently, Gabe couldn't wait for me to find the courage to hook up with him...

...so he decided to hook up with my best friend.

And it's been pretty awful at school.

I mean, drama, a lot of meaningful looks across the parking lot.

Anyway, there's this party tonight...

...and I was suppose to go with him and now... .

I mean, I haven't talked to him.

- Go. - Really?

Yeah, you have to go. Look fantastic. Be nice to everybody.

Have a great time. You do that, you're a rock star.

Come with me.

Let's not get carried away.

Seriously, I walk in with you. You're older, intelligent, mysterious.

I am mysterious.

I am totally kissing your ass right now. Come on.

I mean, it would be so cool.

And I would be indebted to you for, like...

...the rest of time.

This is just like a dream I have. But I'm naked except for my sneakers.

Ladies and gentlemen, the amazingly beautiful Lucy Hardwicke.

Tonight she's wearing a designer dress and is escorted by this guy.

- Hey, how's it going? - Howard Portchnik.

- What did you say your name was? - Howard Portchnik.

- Portchnik. And your father? - Rodney Portchnik.

- Is he here? - In Bermuda, actually.

I don't think I'd be having this party if he was.

- Have fun, kids, stay awesome. - Okay.

What was that?

I think, like a million years ago, my mom had a thing for that guy's dad.

Oh, my God. You're here. That's so cool of you.

And you are...?

I'm her best friend. Yeah. I don't... . Do I know you?

I don't know.

Oh, my gosh, Madison's here.

Come on, I have so much I have to tell you. It's F-ing crazy.

- Go. Go, it's all right. - You sure?

It's crazy. I'll be around.

We drank so much.

Whoa, hey, you're here. I mean--

I'm a real party animal.

- So how you doing? - I'm good. Actually, I'm really good.

Oh, that's good.

If you need someone to talk to or maybe just... .

I don't know. But I'm pretty much around anytime--

Yeah, great. We gotta keep going, Lucy.

There's some seniors from Carver we want you to meet. So hot and funny.

Great.

This guy is a complete asshole.

I could have been the son of an asshole.

Mom, you're never gonna believe where I'm standing.

Carter. It's Sofia.

Are you there?

Yeah. Hi. Hey, how are you?

God, I missed you.

So much is happening. I don't even know where to start.

I just feel like my whole life is, like, crashing in.

I cry all the time...

... and you are the only person I can talk to when I'm flipping out like this.

My best friend.

How are you?

Carter?

Are you the pathetic faggot trying to scam on Lucy?

I'm gonna have to call you back.

You think you can step into my 'hood, slinging game at my girl...

...drinking my boy's brew, and expect not to be scrapping directly?

- What? - Are you deaf and stupid? I said--

Don't-- Don't repeat all that, please.

Okay, I think the answer to your question...

...depends on whether you have, like, a learning disability...

...or you're just an average moron.

- All right. - Okay. Above-average moron.

- Don't take that. - What was that, faggot?

- Get him, Gabe. - What the hell?

- This guy is a good friend of mine. - You complete asshole.

No, you don't. I think we all understand...

...that I am not the complete asshole in this situation.

- It was your mistake. - Would you shut--?

Not me, not this guy, whatever his name is.

She's amazing.

She's beautiful and intelligent and amazing...

...and you blew it.

What's wrong with you? What's wrong with me?

How could I have let you drive my car?

Come on.

You know, that's the first time in my entire life I've ever been punched.

How was it for you?

It hurt.

I'm not a fan.

There's something I wanna tell you.

I've actually never talked about it out loud.

Okay.

Something happened when I was, like, 11.

I had this friend Ethan.

Me and Ethan did everything together.

It's not really weird to be friends with a boy when you're 11.

Anyway...

...I went to his house one day.

And we were just, like...

...hanging out and, like, playing.

Doing kid stuff. I don't know.

I don't think his parents were home.

It was like Truth or Dare?

But, like, a game.

I mean, there was clothes taken off... .

I'm not really even sure, like, what--

It's all right.

I freaked out. And then he freaked out.

And he got really defensive, saying, like... .

Like it was my fault that it went that far.

The next day at school he must have told somebody...

...because it was everyone--

I was just so humiliated.

Teachers got involved, and parents were--

Lucy, Lucy, that kind of thing, that happens to kids all the time.

Really. It does. It's just not that big a deal.

Even though, hey, I know it feels that way.

Like, afterwards, my mom and I...

...we never talked about it. At all.

And I don't know, it just always seemed like she was embarrassed.

That I was, like, a pervert or something--

You're not a pervert. You didn't do anything wrong.

- Then how could she let me feel that way? - Well, you gotta stop blaming your mom.

Hating her for these-- You gotta let it go.

If she was not there for me when I really needed her, why should l--?

Because she might die.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

What the f--?

That was really hard for me to say.

What, are you trying to scare me? Congratulations.

I'm trying to wake you up.

There's a big ing world out there. It's messy and it's chaotic...

...and it's never, ever, the thing you'd expect.

It is okay to be scared...

...but you cannot allow your fears to turn you into an asshole.

Not when it comes to the people that really love you.

The people that need you.

So I guess we're done, right?

Yeah. We're done.

I can't-- I don't-- I don't want to start... .

Don't come any closer. Please.

Okay.

I just wanted to know if you're all right.

Everything hurts.

It's my fault. I know that. I'm responsible.

But you need to hear this, Carter.

You are never gonna touch my daughter again.

- You can't see her. - Wait, I'm sorry.

- I am-- - You have to go.

- What is it with you? - I know.

I mean, if you-- If you don't want to talk to me, fine, whatever.

But don't send Phyllis out to make excuses for you, saying you're not in.

Where am I suppose to believe you went? I'm the only person you know here.

- Right? - Pretty much.

It's been like a week. I mean, five days.

I don't know. I wanted to call you, I just didn't have your cell phone number.

I don't know. I just thought that you were maybe...

...like, mad at me. - Hey, I'm not.

I'm not mad at you.

So you regret kissing me?

Lucy, I can't. Okay? I can't see you anymore.

I just-- I wasn't the guy.

Okay, then I guess-- Who is?

Actually, when you think about it...

...you're gonna find that you already know.

Mom.

I don't feel good.

I think I need--

- Nelson Hardwicke's office. - Hi, this is Lucy. I need my dad.

Lucy, he's not here. He stepped out to- -

Mom, we're gonna try to stand up now. Okay?

I'm gonna get you to the hospital, but I need you to help.

I can't do this by myself. You ready?

You're having what we call a neutropenic fever.

Your white-blood-cell count dropped too low...

...your body can't defend itself.

I spoke with Hoffman in Ann Arbor.

We're gonna put you on a drug called Neulasta.

I'm so sorry I wasn't--

- What happened to her? - You're okay.

I'm gonna grab a soda. You want anything?

No. I'm good.

- Of course I do. You're a cad. - I can't help it.

- Hello? - Hey, Sof. Sofia, it's me.

Who?

Carter.

- Who? - Carter Webb.

Oh, Carter, baby.

Hey, this is just a really bad time.

What?

Listen, I'm at this thing in SoHo and everybody's wasted.

And I'm wasted too. It's New Year's Eve, you know?

No. It's not. It's October.

Well, it feels like New Year's Eve.

Listen, sweetie, I really wanna talk to you, you know?

But let me try a little later. Okay? Okay.

Yeah, okay. No. I just, you know... .

I sort of... .

Hello?

What's wrong with you?

Can't seem to get it together.

I'm 26 years old.

I'm healthy. I'm capable. I've had every opportunity.

My friend's are getting married and having kids...

...and I'm just so far away.

Why did you come here?

I'm trying to write this thing about growing up in L.A.

How long have you been trying?

Oh, 11 years, give or take.

Too long. You're not trying hard enough.

Maybe you should think about working on something else.

Yeah. You're probably right.

I don't know. I had this idea...

...that maybe I could figure something out and change my life.

I was wrong.

Carter. I am 133 years old.

Oh, Grandma. That's impossible.

I have spent my life trying to figure out something.

And you know what?

It's not going well.

I didn't say anything.

I'll be dead soon and you'll still be alive.

So stop complaining.

Hey.

Where did everyone go?

Paige was falling asleep. She wanted to stay...

...but I just felt like being alone.

Okay.

We should talk.

I'm not really sure where we go from here.

Maybe you should start by telling me why you're mad at me.

It's hard to even--

I mean...

...l've been at it for so long...

...that I think I'd probably be mad at you for pretty much everything.

I mean, anything.

You know, they did another CAT scan before the chemo last week.

They say that apparently the surgery was very successful.

There aren't any cancer cells that they can see...

...so all this shit that I have to go through is to make sure.

But I know I'm gonna be all right.

And I didn't before.

I was really afraid.

I don't wanna miss the part where I actually get to know you.

Listen, I don't know what happens next, either. I don't know.

I'm just gonna keep loving you.

And I'm gonna keep hoping you let me into your life.

And I will make mistakes, of course...

...but I will always be there for you.

There's just one thing that you've got to do for me.

What?

You've got to quit smoking.

- Okay. - Okay?

- I will. - Okay.

You should be sleeping, Mom.

Dear Sarah.

I've been trying to write this letter for a while.

The kind you said you'd never received.

The kind I've been working on my whole life.

I remember being 13 years old, sitting in my room all night...

... listening to the same song over and over.

I thought that if I could write something beautiful, something honest...

... maybe I could make someone love me.

I've taken a lot for granted.

I never tried too hard. I've always avoided responsibility.

I came here because I was running away. I wanted to be alone.

Instead, I met you.

I met you, and you weren't taking anything for granted.

I hope you get all the moments you deserve.

I hope you go back to New York and sit in the Met...

... in the room with the paintings of the Hudson River.

And I hope when you do, you take Lucy with you...

... because I know she would love it.

I'm sorry if I've made your life more complicated.

I'm sorry for a lot of things, but most of all...

... I'm sorry I never got the chance to tell you no matter what happens next...

... I'll never be anything but grateful for every moment I spent with you.

And even though I keep fumbling for the right words...

... all I really wanted to say was thank you.

Grandma.

Grandma.

I had one of my children's books FedEx'd from L.A.

It's called Pandy: The Unlovable Self-Destructive Teddy Bear.

You might really like it.

There's no pictures yet, because you'll--

Grandma? Phyllis.

Grandma. Wake up.

Grandma?

Okay. Yeah.

Grandma.

You wrote me a letter.

It's freezing out here.

Seriously, I mean, I've heard things, but this is ridiculous. It's-- You know?

It's depressing.

I'm gonna miss you a little bit.

Good.

Do you maybe want to go for a walk or something?

I can't. I have to--

I have to get back inside.

Okay.

I'll see you around.

Goodbye, Sarah.

Wait.

You know, I have to have the last word.

You're welcome.

Stumped?

Yeah, I guess. I was so close.

To what?

Being finished.

Well, what happened?

I just feel like it's missing something at the end.

You have any ideas for me?

What's it about?

My grandmother. She passed away.

- Sorry. Was she wonderful? - Yeah. She was pretty wonderful.

- Did you spend a lot of time with her? - Towards the end.

That's nice.

That's a really nice thing to be writing about.

No. I got no ideas.

That's so disappointing.

It would have been so cool if I could have just come in...

...and given you that perfect nugget of genius, and then walked away.

It's what any decent waitress would've done.

- Sorry. Settle for a refill? - Okay.

I'm Carter.

Janey. Very nice to meet you.

Yeah. You too.

You know, if you're not too busy...

...I was wondering maybe do you wanna read the scene I'm working on?

It's really rough, but I think I could really use some fresh eyes.

Okay. But I have to warn you, I'm a really tough critic.

Terrific.

Though Jonathan Kasdan's dramedy In the Land of Women is hardly what you'd call original, it still manages to be an amiable and often touching first effort. It's tough to say if the younger son of veteran filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan would've gotten this small, personal picture off the ground without the clout of his heavyweight dad (or, for that matter, a nudge from older director-brother Jake). But whatever made Warner Independent pony up here, it's always encouraging to see a studio take a chance on this kind of intimate, slice-of-life material.

The movie is also a strong showcase for its appealing star, the O.C.'s Adam Brody. After this, Brody (who also had a memorable cameo last year as Rob Lowe's glib assistant in Thank You For Smoking) is sure to become the go-to guy for those soulful, 20-something lead parts previously reserved for Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Zach Braff.
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As Carter Webb, a heartbroken writer who makes a rash exit from L.A. after being dumped by his actress-model girlfriend (Elena Anaya), Brody brings intelligence, warmth, and wry charm to his conflicted character. The fact that Carter flees to Michigan to tend his ailing, batty grandma (scene-stealer Olympia Dukakis) at this exact time may be overly convenient, but it does make him seem nobler than your average Hollywood wannabe.

It takes burrowing away in upscale Ann Arbor for Carter—an earnest fellow who pens soft-core porn flicks but has a novel in his heart—to forget his past and create a new present. This will include not only wrangling with grandma Phyllis, who's convinced she's hovering at death's door, but, more importantly, befriending Sarah (Meg Ryan), the comely housewife across the street, and Lucy (Kristen Stewart), Sarah's equally beautiful but tense teenage daughter. Nothing too earth-shattering happens during Carter's stay on the idyllic street. He takes walks with the wistful Sarah and her trusty bulldog, helps Lucy navigate romantic and parental issues, makes sure Phyllis doesn't answer the door half-naked, and struggles to write a meaningful sentence. The characters also talk—a lot. Sometimes their chatter is honest and poignant, but it's not always as deep as Kasdan likely intended. It's safe to say the more life experience you've had, the less profound the film may seem.

In addition, Carter, Sarah, and Lucy's problems feel a bit manufactured, mostly derived from other movies—American Beauty, Terms of Endearment, The Graduate, Garden State—not to mention a catalog of touchy-feely TV shows. Cancer, ual trauma, infidelity, teen angst, May-September flirtation, career remorse, and lost love, are just some of the topics explored here with varying success. The film's likeability, however, along with its many well-observed moments, helps keep you on its side. These plusses also smooth over several story holes and loose ends that may be the result of some overly ambitious editing. (One thing that was reportedly excised was a scene between Brody and Ryan. Though keeping it in may have created a few marketing challenges—check out who's kissing who in the movie poster—it might've also juiced things up.)

Overall, Kasdan has drawn strong performances from his cast, including Brody, Stewart, Dukakis, and especially Meg Ryan, who not only looks fetching (maybe too much so as Sarah turns ill), but is wonderfully sympathetic as a good woman going through the hardest time of her life. Makenzie Vega is winning as Sarah's wise younger daughter Paige, even if, as written, she's sometimes annoyingly precocious. Clark Gregg, as Sarah's philandering husband and JoBeth Williams, as Carter's mom, are mostly missing in action. Kasdan could use a few more screenwriting lessons from his Oscar-nominated father, but he's off to a decent start.

In the Land of Women marks the directorial debut of Jonathan Kasdan (son of Lawrence and brother of Jake), and while the movie is littered with precisely the sort of problems one generally associates with a first effort, the filmmaker does a nice job of infusing the proceedings with just enough authenticity and heart to maintain the viewer's continued interest. Adam Brody stars as Carter Webb, a struggling writer who decides to move in with his grandmother after a particularly painful break-up and consequently winds up befriending two of his neighbors (Meg Ryan's Sarah and Kristen Stewart's Lucy). It's clear that In the Land of Women works best in its first act, as Kasdan effectively places the emphasis on Carter's soul-searching endeavors - with such antics undoubtedly heightened by Brody's surprisingly layered, emotional performance. Yet there comes a point at which Kasdan starts starts to lose his focus; the inevitable inclusion of several needless elements, including some egregiously quirky supporting characters and a number of fairly pointless subplots, ultimately lends the movie a lamentably uneven vibe. Still, it's hard to fault Kasdan for his ambition and there's certainly no denying that In the Land of Women stands as an above-average debut from an exceedingly promising filmmaker.
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Jonathan Kasdan's "In the Land of Women" is a gentle, sweet-spirited picture about the bewildering qualities of love, about the conflicts that arise in families even when everyone (or nearly everyone) has the best of intentions, about how it's possible to reinvent and reenergize a life. The problem is that the picture is so gentle, it barely leaves an impression.

Adam Brody plays Carter Webb, a Los Angeles writer of softcore porn who aspires to writing "real" fiction. When his luscious, model-actress girlfriend (Elena Anaya) breaks up with him, he decides to head off to Michigan to spend time with his ailing grandmother, Phyllis (Olympia Dukakis), whom he barely knows. He also thinks the change of scenery will jump-start his writing, and there's something charming and decidedly un-slick about the way he sets up his laptop on an old art-deco vanity in a spare room in his grandmother's cluttered house.

Carter gets along OK with Phyllis -- as Dukakis plays her, she's cranky in the way that isn't cute, although with her sailor-on-shore-leave mouth, she's occasionally funny -- but he also needs relief from her stifling eccentricities. He's grateful, and intrigued, when he meets neighbor Sarah Hardwicke (Meg Ryan), a wife and mom who tentatively strikes up a friendship with him and also urges her teenage daughter, Lucy (Kristen Stewart), to ask him out to a movie. It's clear she's attracted to him herself, but unwilling to deal with how inappropriate that might be.

"In the Land of Women" -- Kasdan wrote the script as well as directed -- shows characters getting through some pretty bad stuff, and making connections where they least expect them. Kasdan (son of director Lawrence, brother of director Jake) is more interested in how characters interact than in what happens to them -- he uses dialogue, rather than events, to shape his movie. Maybe that's a luxury available mostly to young directors with famous dads, but that doesn't detract from the reality that Kasdan has used the resources available to him to make a thoughtful, subtle movie, rather than a flashy one. Still, the picture needs more sticking power: Kasdan hasn't figured out how to give the story dramatic gravity without necessarily ratcheting up the pathos. Then again, that's the sort of thing a young director has plenty of time to work on.

Kasdan may also have a knack for working with actors: There are several good performances here, and the cast seems to be relaxed and in tune with one another. At the beginning of the movie, Kristen Stewart's Lucy has that suitably hard, unreadable teenage look -- she's got that sign on her forehead that says, "Go Away" -- but by the end, all that hardness has melted, suggesting that Stewart knows how to shepherd a character through growth and change.
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Meg Ryan is a more difficult case: Just as Ryan was starting to get more interesting roles -- or, perhaps more accurately, beginning to make something interesting out of the roles she was getting -- she dropped off the scene. (Her last picture was the hugely entertaining 2004 "Against the Ropes.") Ryan works hard here, and she gives her character some intriguingly sharp edges. But we're at a point where we're not supposed to notice when an actress of a certain age -- or even an actress who's younger than a certain age -- somehow looks "different." Ryan does have a few forehead lines, though she seems to need to make an effort to summon them. But her lips don't quite look like her own. The issue of actresses and plastic surgery is a delicate one: It's unfair to accuse an actor of messing with his or her face without also addressing the reality that in Hollywood, age is a greater enemy than it ever has been. Even so, with actors making changes at a younger and younger age, we have to ask what kind of skin, and what kind of expressiveness, these performers are going to have left to work with when they're 60 -- or even, in some cases, 50.

Adam Brody doesn't have to worry about that -- at least not just yet. I think many fans of "The O.C." -- that is, those of us who enjoyed the show before it slipped into its decline (and kept watching even when it did) -- are wondering if Brody, so immediately identifiable as the nerdy, seemingly overcaffeinated Seth Cohen, is going to have any sort of life after TV. The answer, or at least what I hope will be the answer, is yes. There will always be a little Seth Cohen in Brody, and that's not a bad thing: He appears to be the kind of actor who knows how to make nervous energy work for him, and maybe one of the keys to doing good work, long-term, is the ability to harness an inexhaustible resource.

Brody's Carter Webb carries numerous echoes of Seth Cohen, showing, most notably, a love of the sardonic, with a tendency toward smart-aleckiness. But Brody also knows how to temper his potentially obnoxious qualities with shades of insecurity and uncertainty, and the equation works. Brody, with his pipe-cleaner limbs, still has some adolescent gawkiness in him, even though he's in his 20s -- it's simply a part of who he is, and he neither exaggerates it nor downplays it. He has a lovely scene in which he listens to Lucy complaining about her mom, even though he also knows, and is sympathetic to, Sarah's side of the story. The two are lounging around outdoors on a warm evening. Carter smokes a cigarette as he listens to Lucy pouring out her teenage tale of woe. The look on his face is one of deep empathy tempered with hard-earned, grown-up common sense; even though he has to allow this young woman her confusion, he also wants to help her grow beyond it. The scene is the kind of small moment that shows what actors are made of. "The O.C." may be over, but Adam Brody isn't.

In the Land of Women is enjoyable for a movie in which pretty much nothing happens. The things that occur during the course of Jonathan (son of Lawrence) Kasdan's debut feature are all subtle and character-based. This is the sort of motion picture one might assume was made in France if everyone wasn't speaking perfect English and setting was somewhere more exotic than Michigan. In the Land of Women is comprised of a number of nice little scenes that, while they don't combine to form something momentous, are each effective in their own low-key manner.

Carter Webb (Adam Brody) is a struggling 26-year old writer who pays the bills by writing soft core porn screenplays. When his girlfriend, Sofia (Elena Anaya), dumps him, Carter decides he needs a change of scenery. So he flies to Michigan to live with his aging, senile grandmother, Phyllis (Olympia Dukakis), and act as her caretaker. This leads Carter to meet the family across the street, the Hardwickes. He quickly becomes friends with Sarah (Meg Ryan), who is going through a reflective and vulnerable period because of a lump she recently discovered in one breast. Sarah's oldest daughter, Lucy (Kristin Stewart), finds Carter's easygoing manner and confidence appealing. And grade-schooler Paige (Makenzie Vega) develops a crush on her new neighbor.

While this premise could easily be used as the starting point for a letter that begins "Dear Penthouse…", Kasdan takes the high road. Despite the tender moments between Carter and Sarah and Carter and Lucy, this isn't a love story. It's about the younger man offering comfort to the troubled older woman when her life seems to be falling apart and about that same younger man providing big brotherly advice to a teenage girl. In the process, he grows a little and is able to move past the tragedy of his break-up. (Will Lifetime purchase the TV rights?)
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In the larger picture, none of the relationships are developed with much depth. Secondary characters like Phyllis, Sofia, and Carter's mother (JoBeth Williams) fade into the background. This is not one of these movies where the characters have profound, lasting impacts upon each other's lives. But In the Land of Women offers moments to savor: the casual walk that Sarah and Carter take while discussing life and love, Lucy's confessions to Carter, and the hospital reconciliation between mother and daughter. Even with the breast cancer subplot, the movie succeeds in being touching without resorting to overt manipulation. This isn't a three-tissue movie. It's heartfelt but not heartwrenching. The final scene, however, may be a little too cute.

Adam Brody does what the lead actor in a movie like this should do: seem like a nice guy who has been wounded. The character is reactive not proactive. Kristen Stewart, one of the few good things in the otherwise unwatchable The Messengers, shows a lot of energy and enthusiasm. She reminds us how conflicted teenagers are about everything, especially parents and members of the opposite , and how they may be more insightful about some things than adults suspect. The most interesting performance belongs to Meg Ryan, who has (at least for this movie) given up the romantic comedy for something more basic. The quality that made her appealing in movies like When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle is still present, but tempered by maturity and free of some of Ryan's more annoying mannerisms. Watching Sarah is like seeing a What If? drama in which Sally Albright got married, grew older, then looked back on her life through the shades of mild regret and disappointment that time often imparts.

Jonathan Kasdan becomes the fourth member of the talented family to have a movie to his name, joining father Lawrence, brother Jake, and uncle Mark. With In the Land of Women, Kasdan has elected to start out small. By not overreaching, he has produced an effective character-based drama that should have strong appeal to women. The movie is being used as counterprogramming to thrillers and horror movies, and should find its niche (if not in theaters then on DVD). It's the kind of production that's pleasant to watch because it allows viewers to spend some time with believable characters who face "regular" problems, but do so without becoming boring or overly familiar. In the Land of Women is a reasonable choice if you're looking for something less frenetic than the usual multiplex fare.